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NA(CWC) Home > FAQs > FAQs
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- General
- Licence
- Declarations
- Permit Application
- Inspection
- Outreach and Training Programme
| Q1.1 |
What is a Chemical Weapon? |
| A1.1 |
Chemical Weapons means the following, together or separately:
- Toxic Chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for purposes not prohibited under this Convention;
- Munitions and devices, specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of those toxic chemicals, which would be released as a result of the employment of such munitions and devices;
- Any equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions and devices as specified in (2).
"Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention" means:
(a) Industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes; (b) Protective purposes, namely those purposes directly related to protection against toxic chemicals and for protection against chemical weapons; (c) Military purposes not connected with the use of chemical weapons and not dependent on the use of the toxic properties of chemicals as a method of warfare; (d) Law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes.
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| Q1.2 |
What is a Toxic Chemical? |
| A1.2 |
It is any chemical, which through its chemical action on life processes, causes death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans and animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are produced in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere. | |
| Q1.3 |
What is a weapon of mass destruction (WMD)? |
| A1.3 |
It includes any nuclear, chemical or biological weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause death or inflict serious injury on a large scale, such as through the release of chemical agents, biological organisms on nuclear radiation, as well as missiles capable of delivering such weapons. | |
| Q1.4 |
What are the chemicals controlled by the NA(CWC)? |
| A1.4 |
The chemicals controlled by the NA(CWC) are seperated into Schedules according to their threats and uses. For more details on the Schedules, please refer to this link. | |
| Q1.5 |
What are the unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs)? |
| A1.5 |
The term unscheduled "discrete organic chemicals" (DOCs) refers to any chemical belonging to the class of chemical compunds consisting of all compounds of carbon, except for its oxides, sulfides and metal carbonates. They are identifiable by name, by structural formula, if known, and by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number, if assigned. This term shall exclude:
- Oligomers and polymers whether or not containing phosphorus, sulfur or fluorine
- Chemicals containing only carbon and metal
- Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (as referred to in the term oxides of carbon in the above definition)
- Carbon disulfide or carbonyl sulfide (as referred to in the term sulfides of carbon in the above definition)
- Hydrocarbons (chemicals containing only carbon and hydrogen, irrespective of the number of carbon atoms in the compound)
- Explosives
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| Q2.1 |
What activities are controlled under NA (CWC) |
A2.1
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| Q2.2 |
Can I apply for a NA(CWC) licence after the start of my activity? |
| A2.2 |
No. You must apply for a licence no later than 14 working days before the date of commencement of your activity pertaining to the controlled chemicals.
Working days are defined as any day from Monday to Friday that is not a public holiday. | |
| Q2.3 |
When is a NA(CWC) licence not required for activities involving Scheduled Chemicals? |
| A2.3 |
A NA(CWC) licence is not required for:
a) the production, processing, consumption for a permitted purpose, import from or export to a State Party of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) involving a chemical listed in item B of Part II of the Schedule to the Act and which contains 30% or less by weight; and
b) the production for a permitted purpose, import from or export to a State Party of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) involving mixtures containing 30% or less by weight of a Schedule 3 chemical. | |
| Q2.4 |
I have studied the list of Scheduled Chemicals but am still unable to determine if a chemical is controlled. What can i do? |
| A2.4 |
If you need assistance in determining whether your chemical item is controlled or which schedule it falls under, you may fill up the Product Enquiry form and email it to customs_nacwc@customs.gov.sg or fax it to 6775 5946. | |
| Q2.5 |
Is the NA(CWC) licence automatically renewed at the end of the year? |
| A2.5 |
No. The NA(CWC) licence is valid for one calendar year and needs to be renewed annually at the end of the preceding year. Licence holders are required to renew their licence if they intend to carry on their licensed activity for the next calendar year. | |
| Q2.6 |
When can we apply for a NA(CWC) licence? And can the licence be amended? |
| A2.6 |
The NA(CWC) licence can be applied for, at any time of the year. Please note that a valid NA(CWC) licence is required prior to the commencement of the activities pertaining to the controlled chemical(s). Application for a renewal licence for the next calendar year is usually done at the end of the preceding year. A request for any amendment to the licence may be made at any time of the calendar year as well. | Licence application and amendment forms are available here.
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| Q2.7 |
My company is exporting a chemical that is not listed in the list of CWC controlled chemicals but is listed in the Strategic Goods Control List. Does my company need to take up a licence with NA(CWC)? |
| A2.7 |
For chemicals not listed in the CWC controlled list but are listed in the control list of the Strategic Goods (Control) Act, a NA(CWC) licence is not required. You would need to check however if these chemicals are also controlled by other controlling agencies such as the National Environmental Agency and Health Sciences Authority, etc. You may visit the Customs STGC website for more information on their export control requirements | |

| Q3.1 |
According to the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act (CWPA), a facility that requires a licence to operate should submit annual reports to the NA(CWC). What kind of information is required in these reports? |
| A3.1 |
The reports should come in the form of Annual Declaration for Anticipated Activities (ADAA) and Annual Declaration for Past Activities (ADPA). The information required are:
- Name of owner and address of the facility;
- Company Registration Number and Central Registration Number;
- Declaration of all activities of scheduled chemical(s) at the facility;
- Detailed layout of facility if involved in production, consumption and/or processing;
- Detailed flow process and block diagrams of activities involved in production
- Declaration of maximum aggregate amount of chemical(s) pertaining to each controlled activity.
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| Q3.2 |
Our company does not have a licence with NA(CWC) and we are not dealing with any activities controlled under the Act. Why have we received notification for a declaration and do we need to submit it back to NA(CWC)? |
| A3.2 |
For the annual past (ADPA) and anticipated (ADAA) declarations exercise, NA(CWC) would issue a general circular to all our licensed companies and other non-licensed companies dealing in chemicals in Singapore, in case these companies are handling chemical mixtures which would be subject to CWPA controls but are not aware of it. If you are not dealing with any of the CWC controlled chemicals and are not subject to the declarations requirements, you would only provide us with a NIL return, but a written response is compulsory. | |
| Q3.3 |
For how long must I keep my reports and documents submitted to the Director-General? |
| A3.3 |
All documents, records and reports must be kept for at least 5 years after the end of the year to which the report relates to, i.e. from 1 Jan of the next year. | |
| Q4.1 |
Are there any restrictions on the import and export of CWC controlled chemicals? |
| A4.1 |
Import and export of all CWC scheduled chemicals are required to be covered by a NA(CWC) licence prior to any shipment (subject to conditions). The export and transhipment of all scheduled chemicals are additionally controlled under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act. | |
| Q4.2 |
My company has a NA(CWC) licence. Do I need to apply for a Strategic Goods permit every time I export the same chemical product to the same end user? |
| A4.2 |
Yes. A strategic goods permit is required for every export. (Please refer to STGC website for details on the strategic goods permit requirements.) | |
| Q4.3 |
What supporting documents are required to be submitted together with my permit application? |
| A4.3 |
Supporting documents are required when you submit your online permit applications. Documents include:
- NA(CWC) Licence
- End User Certificate
- Packing List
- Invoice
- Any other supporting documents that will facilitate approval of your permit (if requested)
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| Q4.4 |
Do I need to take up a Strategic Goods permit for export to States Parties if my product mixture contains less than 30% of a Schedule 2B and/or Schedule 3 chemicals? |
| A4.4 |
No, you will not be required to take up a Strategic Goods permit if your mixture contains less than 30% or less of a Schedule 2B or Schedule 3 chemical. However, the requirement will still apply if your mixture contains other chemicals controlled under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act. Please also refer to the Strategic Goods (Control) Act for applicable exemptions on chemical mixtures. | |

| Q5.1 |
Can the licensed or non-licensed company deny an inspection? |
| A5.1 |
Under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act, Chapter 37B, the company is required to cooperate with NA(CWC) for the inspection at the company plant site.
If the consent of the person-in-charge of the plant site is not obtainable or consent is denied, the NA(CWC) may apply for a warrant to enter the plant site to exercise any inspection powers under the Act. | |
| Q5.2 |
How does the NA(CWC) prepare the company for the inspection? |
| A5.2 |
During the pre-licence inspection by NA(CWC) officers, companies will be briefed on the licensing requirements and conditions, as well as the preparations needed when an OPCW inspection is scheduled.
A pre-inspection briefing will be conducted by NA(CWC) a few days before any scheduled OPCW inspection in order to prepare the company for the inspection. In addition, NA(CWC) officers will accompany the OPCW inspectors at all times during the inspection proper. | |

| Q6.1 |
Does NA(CWC) conduct courses for traders on the Chemical Weapons Convention and its requirements? |
| A6.1 |
The Customs Competency Course covers a wide range of topics including requirements under the CWC. For more information on the course, click here | |

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